A perfect storm to dispatch some prototypes... and links!

Ian Rapoport Sunday, February 28, 2010

The Patriots have their methods of evaluating, scouting, and choosing a player. It's a method that is measured and has a history of success. They like what they like, and coach Bill Belichick and his colleagues have won three Super Bowls with it.

On the edges of their defense, it means the Patriots covet 6-foot-5, 260-pound outside linebackers with long arms and crazy athleticism. Think Willie McGinest if you want to feel good about it. Think Shawn Crable if you don't.

But don't be surprised if those prototypes change this draft. With a plethora of conversion types -- 3-4 linebackers who used to play end in the 4-3 -- in this draft, the way it turns out is that there are also a bunch of short guys. Like Michigan's Brandon Graham, who we've met. And Clemson's sick athlete Ricky Sapp (right), who even measured in at 6-foot-3 instead of 6-5.

"I wouldn't think a few inches would make a difference," Sapp said... but is he right? It was the same for Graham, the 6-foot-1 player.

"It's just a bigger challenge for me to go up and put up bigger numbers than anyone else," Graham said, "continue to show that motor I have."

But what's the difference about a few inches? It's what I wondered in this article.

For some answers, I asked Eric Mangini, the former Patriots assistant and current Browns coach, for his take.

"Most of our guys are still 6-5, and with the 3-4, there are different ways," Mangini said. "If you do the two-gap 3-4, that's more us, New England, I think Denver will probably move in that direction, those guys tend to stay that size and the smaller guys, the 6-1 guys go inside. Now, there's a one-gap 3-4 and typically those smaller guys will play in those types of systems, like Pittsburgh, they can be a little bit shorter."

Fine. But usually, right, not all the time? Can it change?

"There's always exceptions, and you're not gonna kill a guy on the board if he's 6-1, and he can do all the other things you want him to do," Mangini continued. "It's just what you look for tends to be taller. It's the distribution of the height and the weight, because you're looking for 6-5, somewhere between 255 and 265, that distribution tends to be right mix. Maybe it's the leverage on the tight ends, it's just over time, that's what's worked the best, so you tend to stay in those parameters."

-- This is my main story, looking at the size issue and wondering if the Patriots will cave on some of their prototypes.

-- My notebook leads with appearances by Nebraska's Ndamukong Suh and Oklahoma's Sam Bradford, who looked cool and calm in front of the media. There are also some Patriots nuggets.

-- In her weekly Sunday NFL Notes, Karen Guregian checks in with old friend Mike Vrabel, who discusses the one-sided labor talks and tweaks owner Robert Kraft and his brethren for use of the word, "partnership."

-- Also in the notes, Karen looks at different ways of evaluating, then visits with ex-Patriot Rodney Harrison.

-- Karen also tackles the Adalius Thomas dilemma, as Rex Ryan avoids the question of his future, but we don't.

-- Former Pats assistant and current Broncos coach Josh McDaniels explains that titles didn't matter to him when he was with the Patriots. Some staffers right now may think the same way.

-- Our man, Nate, has this graphic on some of the Combine's workout warriors, which doesn't always translate.